Epiphanes definition
Epiphanes means “God made manifest,” was king of the Seleucid empire, one of the four kingdoms that emerged from Alexander the Great’s former territory. Initially he was not first in line for the throne, but he seized it from his nephew through intrigue and then enlarged his kingdom through substantial military successes. Antiochus was a tyrant who tried to unify his kingdom by forcing all of his subjects to adopt Greek cultural and religious practices. He banned circumcision, brought an end to sacrifice at the temple in Jerusalem in 167 B.C., and then deliberately defiled it by burning pig’s flesh on the altar and placing an object sacred to Zeus in the Holy of Holies. He also burned copies of the Scriptures and slaughtered those who remained true to their faith in God, fitting perfectly the description of a stern-faced king who was completely wicked. This king was part of the fulfillment of the dream, for the angel had prophesied that “in the latter part of their reign, when rebels have become completely wicked, a stern-faced king, a master of intrigue, will arise. He will become very strong, but not by his own power. He will cause astounding devastation and will succeed in whatever he does. He will destroy the mighty men and the holy people” (Dan.